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fanaticsnail · 7 months

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To the ends of the earth

I am so sorry, I let the words run away with me again. I had no idea how much I had in me for this plot until it sprung onto the page.

Word Count: 6.814 (Again, I apologize but I truly couldn't resist!).

This is angsty, and I am sorry. This is my first time writing for Koby, at the request of @bonedaddi3. (I hope you and your friend enjoy!)

If you enjoy my writing, please let me know. It really encourages me to continue honing in on my little hobby.

As the sails lay rustling in the breeze directing the large, sea-worn ship into Shells Town. You closed your eyes and relished in the scent of the salt-riddled water engulfing your senses. Seagulls shrieked above, directing your attention to the beams supporting the crows nest. You squinted your eyes and smiled at the sight as you continued to bring the vessel into harbour.

“Lieutenant!” you heard Vice Admiral Garp call, addressing you by your formal title. You snapped your head towards the direction of his voice and stood to attention as he briskly made his presence known to you.

“Sir!” you sharply responded from your place adjacent to the helm, saluting to welcome him to the deck.

“At ease,” he directed you while raising his right hand and nodding his head. You responded by separating your legs and releasing the hold of your firm posture, pulling your hands behind your back and resting them with interlocked fists. You trailed your eyes over your Vice-Admiral before looking behind him to acknowledge commissioned Officer Bogard, nodding to him.

“We’re going aboard shortly,” Garp said, bringing your attention back to fall before him, “as you had been informed yesterday evening, things have been slipping here for some time.”

You nodded at him as he continued to instruct you in your duties.

“As discussed, I am relieving the Captain of his title and issuing a formal reprimand for his behaviour,” Garp added, looking to the approaching shore, “I may even string him up in the stock-yard for losing the map to the grand line.”

You noticed a small smirk appear on Bogard’s face at the thought of knocking Captain Morgan down a few paces.

“I’ll be leaving my ship in your command, Bogard will join me in Shells Town,” he added, nodding to the man behind him. You accepted his orders with curt, “yes, Sir.”

“From what I’ve gathered, he’s got a volley of cadets in dire need of training,” he smirked slightly, his eyes twinkling in thought, “I’ll be bringing them aboard for you to train.”

You smiled at the new command broadly. Your current title of lieutenant was thrust upon you at a hastened pace; as your renowned battle-ready and iron-clad will were the topic of many dinner conversations with the higher-up military generals. This was part of the reason why Vice-Admiral Garp requested you personally to join him on this particular voyage. Your military expertise at running drills until your underlings either passed out from exhaustion, threw up the contents of their stomachs or withdrew their applications from the Marines in service would break in the most successful cadets Garp had seen.

“Yes, sir,” you responded, prompting him to smile and turned on his way towards the dock where you steered the ship to make port.

Vice-Admiral Garp and Bogard exited the ship, leaving you with a bare-bones crew to continue to maintain the vessel against the port. You sent off your Boatswain to collect enough ingredients for the chef to prepare rations for the new recruits, leaving you to your duties as Quartermaster.

You maintained an air of formality while instructing your crew to create enough crew-quarters for the new arrivals as they were brought aboard.

After several hours of preparation, the Vice-Admiral and his Brigadier returned aboard the vessel with twenty fresh-faced recruits trailing behind them. In acknowledgment to Garp’s arrival, you marched down the steps atop the deck to welcome your leader to his ship.

“Vice-Admiral,” you stood to attention as you did hours prior., saluting him in respect.

“At ease, Lieutenant,” he responded with a curt nod. He used his beard-whiskered chin to nod for you to follow him away from the new recruits with Bogard following along silently.

“Quite the array you’ve managed to claim, Vice-Admiral,” you acknowledged the troops with a downward nod, prompting Garp to follow your gaze.

“That I have,” he agreed with you with a slight, downturned smile, “I can’t wait to see what you’ll mould them into.”

You smirked at his compliment before asking him, “how did the formal reprimand go with Captain Morgan?”

“As well as you could expect,” he chuckled, “I’ve instructed the newly branded Captain to leave him tied in the stocks for a week or so.”

You hummed in response, turning again to look at the cadets as they climbed aboard your ship. Your attention was immediately drawn to a small cadet with circular broad-rimmed glasses who was slightly drowning in his oversized uniform. You quirked your brow at him slightly, prompting Garp to follow your gaze.

“Ah, that one,” he acknowledged, prompting you to return your sights to your superior officer, “he’s the newest recruit.”

You nodded in response before furrowing your brows.

“And you are certain you desire me to train this troop exactly as I would back at base?” you asked him before looking over the young recruits. Vice-Admiral Garp paused for a moment before leaning in close to your ear and issuing one final command.

“Break them,” he voiced above a whisper and clapped his left hand atop your left shoulder before turning back to address the cadets.

“Cadets, you had better prove yourselves if you are to sail under me!” he ordered in a booming voice, “the pirates who attacked Shells Town have a head start, but once I sink my teeth in; I won’t let go.”

You turned your head slightly to the right to release a sharp crack from the joint at the nape of your neck.

“Am I understood, Marines?” Garp barked.

You joined the ship-wide singular voice responding to his question, a loud: “Yes, Sir!”

He smiled at his crew before gesturing to you to step forward to begin an introduction.

“This is my Lieutenant,” he boomed as you stepped forward into view. You held a determined look adorning your features as you assessed the twenty young members of crew.

“She is under my direct instruction to train you and rid you of any inadequacies you had learnt under the former Captain Morgan,” he continued sharply, “she has my sanction to use any means necessary to break you in, understood?”

“Yes, sir!” echoed throughout the deck as the cadets began to bring their attention to you. You rolled your shoulders back began issuing your first commands.

“Fall in, recruits,” you sharply ordered, prompting five rows of four cadets per row. You wove between them, sharply assessing each of them as they stood. You noticed several cadets had their cravats slightly skewed, prompting you to reach up and firmly readjust them with your hands. Stalking their forms and trailing your merciless gaze over them, not uttering a single word as you began your trial of intimidation. You flicked a loose button on the vest of a cadet with your index finger, prompting them to trail your gaze to your administration.

“Repair that,” you ordered under your breath.

“Yes, Ma’am,” they responded sharply, holding their gaze ahead. You continued your stalking assessment through the final two rows, noticing two mismatched individuals at the head: the smaller cadet with glasses and a tall blonde with a ridiculous hair cut and what appears to be a fresh blackened eye.

You focussed your gaze on the smaller of the two, looking him over as you assessed his presentation.

“You need a new uniform,” you commented in a monotonous voice, “this one is far too large.”

“I-it was all they had, Ma’am,” he quietly managed to stutter out while not making eye contact. You noticed the tall blonde snicker at the comment made by the cadet you formerly addressed and snapped your gaze over towards him.

“Something amusing, cadet?” you sharply asked him, prompting a small smirk to disappear at the corner of his mouth. He looked at your sharpened gaze, eyes wide at your immediate attention.

“No, Ma’am,” he responded quickly in a hushed tone.

“What was that, cadet?” you asked him with hard direction, narrowing your eyes and sizing him up.

“No, Ma’am!” he responded withholding no hesitation in his voice.

“Disrespect your fellow cadet again with something as atrocious as a snicker, and you will be dealing with more than just a black eye, understood?” you threatened him, prompting him to again reissue a resounding: “Yes, Ma’am!”

You returned your attention back to the pink-haired recruit with a sinister gaze. He continued to stair ahead, a slight quiver from his shoulders did not escape your attention.

“What’s your name, Marine?” you asked him, bluntly.

“Koby, Ma’am,” he responded in a quiet tone.

“When I give you an order, you respond with ‘Yes Ma’am’, understood?” you reiterated.

“Yes, Ma’am,” he responded quietly, fixing his gaze at the floor and quiver slightly under your direction.

“Eyes forward, Koby!” you barked at him, prompting him to jolt his shoulders slightly before bringing his gaze up to meet your unrelenting aura of authority.

“Cadets, what are we?” you barked.

“Marines, Ma’am!” you heard them respond in unison.

You nodded your head and began to pace the front of the five rows silently before beginning a small monologue.

“We are Marines,” you confirmed, pacing the rows and staring out into the open sea with slight pause.

“I have been instructed to break you,” you continued, again pacing the five rows, “and believe me when I tell you, I will.”

Several cadets appeared to be slightly rattled at your threat, but continued to fix their gaze ahead.

“There will be pain,” you said, stopping in front of the right-most front facing cadet, “there will be sweat and blood pulled from places you never thought you could sweat and bleed from,” you said, continuing to stop in front of the leaders of the lines.

“And you will take every inch of training I bestow upon you until you feel yourself break under my authority, is that understood?” you directed at them in a firm voice.

“Yes, Ma’am,” they responded, keeping their eyes fixed on the horizon line before you.

“I do not care who you are or where you’ve come from,” you halted in front of the blonde who snickered moments prior before moving on to the circular glasses-clad cadet in front of you, “you are mine.”

You saw his Adams-apple visibly bob as an indication of him swallowing a wad of collected saliva behind his lips. His eyes flittered between your hardened gaze, before triangulating down to rest his sights momentarily on your lips before hastily returning them to your eyes.

“Do I make myself clear, cadets?” you fixed your gaze, baring directly into his eyes.

“Yes, Ma’am!” their confirmation resounded in unison, but your sights were continued to be fixed on the small cadet in front of you.

“Good,” you said with a small smirk and an arch of your brow. Up closer to the small cadet, you accidentally assessed his features. Your attention was brought to the semi-frightened intensity displayed freely from his blue irises before your eyes flickered down to rest slightly on his supple, parted lips before you hastily returned your gaze to his eyes once more.

“Boatswain!” you called suddenly to your coworker.

“Yes, Lieutenant!” he responded, stepping forward with a salute.

“Assign the the cadets their chores,” you ordered, turning to face your boatswain, “I will be watching them very closely.”

“Yes, Ma’am,” he responded with a salute. You nodded your acknowledgement at your coworker before returning to your cadets.

“Dismissed!” you said, prompting the twenty newcomers to fall in line to receive their orders from the boatswain. You remained stationary as your eyes trailed the cadets as they eagerly scurried to receive their orders from the boatswain, paying particularly close attention to the smaller, pink-haired individual you intimidated moments prior.

You watched him as he, even before receiving instruction from the boatswain, began checking the rigging for faulty knots, moving any hazards from the pathway between the arched corridors of the large vessel. You narrowed your eyes in thought, almost not hearing the approaching footprints of your Vice-Admiral.

“Nicely executed, Lieutenant,” Garp complimented you, prompting you to angle your body towards his without breaking your gaze from the small recruit; nodding to him in gratitude. Garp followed your gaze to the small recruit and arched his brow before bringing his sights back to your form.

“Impressed already?” he asked you, prompting you to tear your sights from watching Koby successfully undo a slipknot you had purposefully rigged and retied it skilfully before he turned to receive his orders from your boatswain.

“The cadet, Koby,” you began, looking slightly behind Garp to address Bogard, “who is he?”

Garp let out a small chuckle at your question.

“He was travelling among the Alvida pirates as their prisoner until arriving in town with the leader of the Strawhat pirates,” Bogard informed you monotonously.

“A pirate prisoner?” you asked him with your eyes slightly widened.

“I thought you said you didn’t care who they were or where they came from,” Garp taunted you slightly, prompting you to bring your attention back to him, “do not relent your training on his accord.”

“Yes, sir,” you responded with a curt nod, “may I be dismissed so I may supervise the cadets, sir?”

“You are dismissed,” he nodded at you, prompting you to salute and turn on the balls of your feet to supervise the newest members of your vessel.

“I was initially hesitant at your request to bring her along,” Bogard addressed the Vice-Admiral and stepping beside him, “she seemed far to young to undertake this task, but after that little display; it’s safe to say I’m impressed.”

“I wouldn’t let her youthfulness dissuade your confidence, Bogard. I’ve seen the marines she trained, and her results speak for themselves,” he confirmed with his underling, which prompted him to nod in response.

Over the course of several months, the marines would only eat when you allowed them to eat; slept when you permitted them to sleep and you trained them in combat until exhaustion would overcome their bodies. You taught them to maintain their uniforms to an appropriate standard; teaching them to maintain their stitches and polish their brass buttons with ample discipline. You continued to monitor the progress of Koby as he quickly rose to become one of the best cadets this particular allotment produced. It also did not escape your notice that he hastily became the starred protégé of Vice-Admiral Garp, who called him into his office for intellectual challenges.

One evening, Bogard came to fetch you while you were leading a particularly heavy cardio and combat-intensive training exercise for the recruits.

“I know you can give me more than that, cadets!” you taunted them with a smirk, prompting them to make their movements harder, sweat dripping from their faces at your command. Koby flicked his eyes over to you while panting hard through partially open lips at the drill you were instructing him. His face was flushed partially from the over-excursion of the drill and the fact that you were focussing your eye contact with him as you continued to taunt them.

“This is the final stretch, cadets,” you called to them, stepping closer to Koby as he continued to push himself at your command, “make me proud.”

Koby wanted nothing more than to push himself beyond the point of exhaustion to satiate your desire for absolute excellence. He adhered to your taunt and strenuously pushed his body to complete the spirited task you had appointed all of the cadets. You smiled in response at him with slightly surprised eyes before turning your attention to another recruit. Although your eyes no longer focussed solely on him, he continued to push and push, tasting the familiar metallic twinge of blood over his tongue as he exhausted his body for you.

“Lieutenant, the Vice-Admiral requests you join him in his office immediately,” Bogard interrupted your instruction to inform you. You growled slightly at the interruption, but relented.

“Alright, Marines,” you addressed your cadets, “that will be all for today. Cool down your bodies so they don’t seize up. Focus on your arms first, they’ll need it most.”

A collective, resounding sigh of relief could be heard passing through the lips of the marines, after acknowledging your instruction with a: “Yes, Ma’am”.

This prompted you to laugh slightly in response to their relief. Over the past few months, you successfully broke the young recruits in and eased up on your hardened exterior; forming friendships with several of the newcomers. Although you continued to hold an air of authority over the troop and never engage in inappropriate conversations with them; you were closer in age to this lot than any you had trained prior, and it showed.

Garp would often watch you engage with the recruits and smile at how organic you were with this collection. After he requested your attendance on his vessel, he grew very fond of you and the rapport you engaged with him.

“Don’t be too relieved,” you said with a small smirk, “I will be pairing you up in size and skill tomorrow and lead you in sparring against one another. You are not to hold back, only stopping once your opponent is either unconscious or otherwise incapacitated. Is that understood, cadets?”

“Yes, Ma’am,” the cadets responded in unison.

“Dismissed, then,” you said to them with a small salute and a warm smile, “I’ll see you all at dinner.”

You turned to bring your attention to Bogard and grinned at him before stepping forward to greet him. You walked in step with one another towards the office of your Vice-Admiral, blissfully unaware of the eyes baring into your retreating form.

“Alright, out with it,” Helmeppo prodded his fellow cadet with a roll of his eyes, “What is it, Koby?”

He noticed Koby’s eyes were continuing to focus on the lieutenant as you finally fell out of sight beside Bogard.

“N-nothing, Helmeppo,” he responded, turning back around and readjusting his uniform to be as pristine as he could make it.

“Are you sure it’s not the fact you have a little crush on our commanding officer?” he teased him slightly with a nudge from his shoulder to Koby’s. Koby’s eyes widened and his face immediately flushed a warm pink tone.

“I don’t have a-,” he stuttered slightly, “-a crush on the Lieutenant.”

Helmeppo smirked broadly and felt as if he finally had a leg up on Koby. Although he had the history and knowledge of someone who grew up on a marine base under the command of his father; he did not foster favour with any of the authorities on this vessel. He needed to use this to his advantage somehow, hoping sharing this moment with Koby would grant him favour with at least one of the commanding officers.

“Oh yes you do,” Helmeppo reiterated, “I’ve seen the way your beady little eyes trail her when she’s ordering us around. I know you push yourself hard to impress her in physical training, even though you absolutely suck at it.”

Koby gulped the saliva he collected in his mouth and nervously flickered his tongue out to dampen his lower lip. Helmeppo widened his sinister smile at the reaction he managed to bring from Koby at his sudden taunt.

“The sooner you come to terms with it, the sooner you can do something about it,” he advised off-handedly. Koby didn’t grace Helmeppo with a response, choosing to kneel down and undo and retie his shoelaces.

You made your way throughout the hall to meet with your Vice-Admiral, knocking lightly on the doorframe to alert Garp to your presence.

“Enter, Lieutenant,” Garp called to you, prompting you to open the door. You pushed on the frame to reveal your boss seated at his desk.

“Sir,” you addressed him, clicking your heals and offering a salute, “you asked to see me?”

“That I did, Lieutenant,” he responded, “at ease.”

You widened your stance and laced your hands behind your back at his direction. He reached down to a draw beneath his desk and retrieved a bottle of rum and twin crystal short-glasses. You knit your brows together at his movements, prompting him to smile.

“Come and sit,” he gestured to the chair in front of him. You nodded your head and made to walk over to the chair before him. You pulled it out and took a seat, keeping an alert posture as you watched him pour the liquid into the glasses.

“You have done a more than excellent job in training the recruits,” he said, placing one of the glasses in front of you, “they have made me proud.”

“Thank you, sir,” you said, accepting the glass he placed before you.

“They are a direct reflection on you,” he continued, “which means you, in turn, have made me proud.”

You smiled slightly at his comment, before adding another; “thank you, sir.”

He smiled, clicking the side of his glass against your own and raising it to his lips and taking a small sip. You followed his example and brought the liquid to your lips and taking a sip, savouring the smoky and burning liquid on your tongue before swallowing it.

You both sat in comfortable silence as you sipped at your rum.

“What do you make of the cadet, Koby?” he asked you with a small twinkle in his eyes.

You searched your mind for an adequate response, thinking only of words of absolute praise. You can admit to only yourself that you harboured more than the feelings of comradery for the cadet, but you would never express those to a commanding officer.

“I was taken with him immediately, as you recall,” you said, nodding your chin to the Vice-Admiral.

“Yes I do remember that,” he confirmed, bringing the glass again to his lips.

“His strength has improved,” you added, “he pushes himself further in physical training than any of the others, although they all give me their strength. He’s determined, experienced in sea bearing activities and eager to learn.”

“That he is,” Garp smiled into his glass.

You finished your glasses and reflected on the various months of strenuous training you had provided to break in the cadets for several more minutes before Garp dismissed you to retire for the evening meal.

“There looks like there’s a storm brewing,” Garp said, gesturing out his window towards the grey clouds eclipsing the once clear sky, “go get some dinner before making sure everything is fastened to brace for some choppy waves.”

“Yes, sir,” you said as he dismissed you.

You walked down the corridor of the large ship towards the dining quarters. The waves began to pick up, clashing against the wooden frame of the ship and rocking you slightly as you walked down the hall. You held onto the side of the ship to brace yourself against the hull, steadying your movement over as another choppy wave flung itself against the ship. After pausing, you continued to make your way towards the dining hall. Turning one final corner, another large wave seemingly threw you from your feet. You attempted to brace your body, in the process colliding your form directly into the chest of the circular glass-wearing, pink-haired cadet.

“Apologies, Lieutenant,” he said, stepping back from your close proximity and saluting to you to the best of his abilities. You smiled warmly at the cadet.

“At ease, Koby,” you chuckled slightly at his immediate reaction, “it was my fault. I was miles away and these waves don’t help either.”

He released a nervous chuckle from between his lips and smiled at you. You collected yourself and used his arms to steady yourself and rode out the final reverberations of the wave as it quietened.

“I don’t think I have ever expressed this to you before,” you began, bringing his blue irises to rest on your own, “I’m truly proud of you. You’ve come so far and I’ve thoroughly enjoyed watching you flourish under my instruction.”

He gasped slightly at the affirming words you were bestowing onto him. You released his forearms from your grip with a light chuckle, nodding to him in thanks for allowing you to brace yourself against him.

“Thank you, lieutenant,” he said with a warm smile, eyes shining brightly at your compliment. You smiled warmly at him as you watched him beam in the ambiance of the compliment.

“I-I can honestly say,” he stuttered with a smile, “I have enjoyed having you break me. I-I’d do anything for you.”

He froze after speaking those words, his smile dropped and a tinge of red overcame his features. You widened your eyes at his confession.

“I didn’t mean it l-like that,” he spluttered out his words hurriedly, “I mean, I would follow your commands. I would do anything to continue to make you proud-.”

You creased your brows with a small smile as you watched the cadet continue to use a hypothetical shovel to dig a deeper hole for himself, choosing to remain silent; giving him all the time he needs to find the correct words he wished to express toward you.

“-The marines, Ma’am!” he continued to correct himself, “-to make the marine’s proud. I would follow you to the ends of the earth to make the marines proud.”

You broadened your smile at him, enjoying watching him squirm slightly while falling over his words. As he continued to depict his affections for you, and you refused to smother the growing feeling of affection rising in your chest for the pink-haired cadet. As he continued to spur words of adoration for you, the well seemingly erupted as your body tingled with an almost giddiness you had not experienced prior.

“I just-,” he halted his words, “I just want you to know how much you mean to me-.”

You giggled slightly at his words. The waves began to swell again and clash against the wooden ship once more, your bodies both swaying slightly as you rode through them together, interlocking your knees to steady yourselves against the impact.

“-to all of the cadets, Ma’am,” he furrowed his brows and avoided your eye contact by looking all throughout the empty hall; focussing on anything other than your gaze. The waves began to dissipate once more, allowing you to steady yourselves. Koby continued to blink sporadically around the cabin and avoid your gaze in an attempt to stifle his flushed emotions.

You reached up with your left hand and placed it on his right shoulder, immediately bringing his rose-tinged attention to fixate on your face. He gazed into your eyes, triangulating down to your lips and holding his attention there slightly as he did the first day he met you before bringing his blue orbs back up to your knowing eyes.

This was not the first time a subordinate had developed feelings of affection towards you, especially as you trained them over the course of several months. It was, however, the first time you felt yourself reciprocate the affections of a crewman; and a cadet at that.

“It’s ok, Koby,” you reassured him with a fond smile, quirking your head to the side in amusement. You allowed a momentary softness in your formal demeaner as you gazed into the affectionate, timid eyes of the pink-haired cadet. He flittered his sights to the placement of your hand against his shoulder, feeling the warmth you offered so freely to him before looking back to your face.

He switched, flittering his eyes between focussing on one of your irises before swapping to the other nervously.

The waves again began to swell aboard the vessel, prompting you to release the cadet from your grip and look to your surroundings to ensure the rigging to be completely secure in the lower decks. He followed your gaze slightly, focussing on the rattling chains adorning the walls as they shook in sync with the waves.

“Lieutenant?” he asked you suddenly.

Your face adorned a slight amount of unease at the large swell of the waves breaking against the hull of the ship. You reached again to Koby’s shoulder and brought his body against yours while you both braced for the swelling impact of the approaching tidal waves. You frowned in determination and fixed your sights to the stairs leading to the upper deck. You saw water begin to flow down the steps and enter into the lower decks, indicating an object not correctly fastened above the chambers below.

“Stay below decks, Koby,” you commented before releasing your grip from his shoulder for the third time since you interacted with him.

“Ma’am?” he asked you, focussing on fixating his gaze following your own.

“Cadet, I need to go and secure the loose object above decks,” you said, turning to look directly in his eyes, “stay below deck and stay safe,” you emphasized your final instruction.

You began to brace yourself against the walls as you were thrust into them from the swelling waves brought onto you. You wiped stray hairs falling into your face that became damp with offensive seawater away from your vision and pulled your body above deck by the ropes adorning the walls.

While maintaining a blissful ignorance to your surroundings, you were unaware that the cadet you instructed moments prior to remain secure within crew quarters disregarded your orders and followed closely behind you.

As you brought yourself above the deck, you noticed several weighted cannons had become loose at their rigging, prompting you to spring into action to resecure them in place. Squeezing your eyes shut between sprays of sour seawater as they splashed onto your face, you paid them no mind as you continued to make safe the cannons by securing them with complex knots.

While securing the last cannon in place, you felt the true weight of the object as it barrelled into you, successfully trapping you between the polished wooden frame of the ship. Freshwater sprayed onto your face as the clouds above swelled the substance over your face, combining the with the prior saltwater from the swells to successfully shield your vision from any approaching figureheads.

The surrounding bellowing clashes of thunderous clouds combining with the swelled waves provided no response from your struggle against the weight of the final cannon. You felt yourself begin to panic slightly under the weight of the cylindrical object as it pressed you against the side of the deck.

You witnessed a large wave begin to swell, your eyes widening at the sheer size of it. Before you could utter a sound of plea for rescue, you noticed a truss of candy-pink damp hair field your vision. You felt the cadet audibly strain against the weight of the cannon, utilising all of his strength to pull the object from its hold on your body.

“Koby, what are you doing here?!” you barked at him in surprise, “I ordered you to remain below deck!”

“With all due respect, lieutenant,” he said while grunting, pulling the cannon from your body by issuing all of his strength, “you can’t do everything alone.”

You nodded at him, still with a frown adorning your features as you both utilised the reserves of your strength to pry the weapon from crushing your body.

You managed to feel the cannon pull away from your body, meeting each other’s gaze with a laugh of relief. The relief, however, was short lived as the large swelling wave thrust itself against the stern of the ship and managed to sweep you from your feet and carry you overboard into the dangerous waters.

“Man overboard! Lieutenant overboard!” reverberated in your ears as you felt yourself be pulled beneath the surface, your senses becoming overwhelmed with the pressure of the water below. Although you were a confident swimmer, you felt yourself continually be pulled beneath the surface of the water; unable to claim a breath of air to sustain your lungs. As your vision began to spot with darkened circles, you saw a small object join you beneath the surface of the water; an arm claiming your body and bring you to rise to the surface. Your vision became clouded and you found yourself succumbed to the darkness the water had desired to bestow before you.

Before your body could comprehend what was happening to it, you found yourself suddenly thrown back against a hard surface. You had no idea if you were dead or merely unconscious for some time. All you were alerted to was a pair of soft lips against your own as you felt air enter your lungs as water sprayed onto your face.

“Breathe, lieutenant!” you heard orders being thrust onto you, “please breathe!”

You coughed slightly, ridding your lungs of the toxic seawater. You rolled onto your side as you continued spluttering up the liquid consumed by the chasms within your chest. You heard a sigh of relief from the form above you while you gasped for breath and continued your coughing.

After you inhaled a burning breath into your chest, you rolled onto your back as you felt the waves subside. You watched a small eye in the clouds above begin to form, flowing beams of warm rays from the sun onto your skin as you continued to inhale the air surrounding your body. You shut your eyes and focussed on deeply inhaling life-sustaining oxygen before reopening your eyes and focussing on the cadet kneeling in front of your reclined form.

You narrowed your eyes, noticing the pink-haired cadet no longer supported his spectacles on his face and his uniform was incredibly damp.

“Koby?” you breathlessly asked him, confirming the individual was exactly who they presented themselves to be. You searched his eyes for security, noticing his waterline was slightly red.

“Lieutenant,” he gasped, eyes wide and an air of anxiety pronounced over his features.

“You disobeyed a direct order,” you reprimanded him sternly, bringing your elbows up below your torso to rise your chest from its reclined position below you, “why did you disobey my direct order?”

He immediately bowed his head before you in apologies, bringing your attention to a slight sniff from his nose as his shoulders began to shake slightly.

“Because I couldn’t let you go,” he murmured while maintaining his concentration on the wood below you, refusing to bring his sights to gaze upon your own.

You brought your fingertips to your mouth and traced the outline of your parted lips. You noticed a slight swell beneath your fingertips, indicating a pressure had been applied to your body.

“I was down, wasn’t I?” you asked him, eyes widened in shock.

“Yes, Ma’am,” you heard him confirm in a low tone above a whisper.

“How long was I down?” you asked him, releasing your lips from beneath your fingertips.

“Twelve minutes, Ma’am,” he uttered, continuing to keep his head bowed to you. You coughed slightly before lifting your body into a seated position, feeling the weight of your lungs that you believed to be priorly weighed down with seawater.

You gazed to Koby’s form, noticing his bent knuckles as he grasped the polished wooden floors beneath his fingers, his face shrouded by his candy-floss pink hair. He appeared to be trembling slightly at the shoulders, whether it be from the cold water dampening his clothes or from the adrenaline spiking his senses as he brought you back above deck; you were unsure.

“Koby,” you whispered, bringing your hand to his chin, claiming it between your fingers. He stifled his shuddering slightly, his shoulders solidifying at your sudden touch. You lifted his gaze to meet your own, noticing tears had began to well at his glazed-over eyes.

“Why did you dive in for me? The sea could’ve claimed you, too,” you said, releasing his chin from your grip and tracing them gently against the line of his jaw, prompting him to inhale sharply and shut his eyes, leaning into your caress.

“I told you, lieutenant,” he whispered into your palm before reopening his eyes and looking beneath his long eyelashes and baring his blue orbs into your own, “I would follow you to the ends of the earth.”

You upturned your brows at him and offered him a half-smile at the corner of your lips. He looked away from you, turning to the righthand side of the deck.

“Koby-,” you began with a deep sigh, releasing his jaw and cheek from your caress.

“-and I know it’s inappropriate, lieutenant,” he interrupted you with a slight sigh, “but I couldn’t leave you. I-,”

He paused, bringing his gaze back to yours before again declaring; “-I-I love you.”

You felt the air hypothetically this time flee from your chest at his sudden declaration.

“A-and I don’t care if you don’t feel the same way-,” he began, halting his words only at your sudden outburst of adoration. You claimed his shoulders in a warm embrace, holding him against your torso and smoothing over his back.

“Koby,” you again whispered into him, bringing your cheek flush against the side of his pink hair.

“Ma’am,” he responded in a breathily whimper. You released his shoulders from your embrace before bringing your forehead to rest against his own, your eyes closed. You inhaled through your nose, breathing in any anxiety he continued to hold, feeling the waves of his unease dissipate with each passing moment.

You felt him snake his arms around your waist and bring you closer against his body, continuing to press his forehead against your own for as long as you would permit him to do so. You opened your eyes and brought your forehead away from his own, keeping only a few centimetres between you.

“I owe you my life,” you whispered into his face with a warm smile, “and I am willing to spend each moment of the rest of the life I could’ve lost just now to show you just how much love I truly have for you.”

You heard him inhale sharply first before you witnessed how wide his beautiful blue eyes were, beginning to brim slightly at your declaration. You giggled slightly at his reaction, scrunching your nose; teasing him slightly.

“Does that mean I can kiss you?” he innocently asked you in a hurried voice, prompting you to giggle in response.

“Koby,” you half laugh-sighed deeply before hooking your elbow behind his neck and suddenly bringing his face flush with your own. You leant your lips into his and pressed a deep kiss upon him, filled with the adoration you truly held for him. You were apprehensive to express yourself further to deepen the kiss than what he was comfortable with, noting his anxiety in your prior interactions.

His enthusiasm was quickly expressed through his administrations, bringing both of his hands to your lower ribs as he pulled your torso against his own with a small whimper falling between his lips. You smiled into the kiss and gasped into his lips as you unhooked your elbow from behind his neck and opted to cradle his cheeks within your palms. You could feel his body begin to shake with all of the emotion he was holding back, prompting you to respond empathetically as you continued to hold him against.

Koby nearly lost you; not only his superior officer who had trained him so vigorously in his quest to achieve his dream of becoming an elite marine, but the woman he came to truly love. He administered chest compressions and mouth-to-mouth to your unresponsive body for twelve whole minutes before you sucked in a shaky breath and ridded your body from the salt-water your lungs had filled beyond capacity. He cried for you, willing every fibre of his being to bring you back from the brink of death to be at his side.

You felt warm tears freely spill down his cheeks as he continued to press his lips against your own, exchanging angles to deepen your kiss between gasped breaths.

You broke from his lips only to bring your thumbs up to his cheeks and soothe over the free-falling tears he released from his eyes as he was overcome with a tirade of intense emotions. You opted not to speak, but continue to administer a gentle touch over his skin as his body trembled. You kissed his cheeks softly as he whimpered into your touch, bringing his hands to your wrists and gently holding them against his face as he continued to enjoy your touch.

Masterlist is here.

He pressed his lips into each of your palms before looking deeply into your eyes with a broad smile after he worked through the complex emotions, emitting a laugh from his lips in absolute joy as he processed the fact you were returning his affections.

You returned his laugh with a small chuckle of your own as you gazed affectionately into his eyes before bringing your lips to press against his once more as to seal an unspoken promise made between you both.

#koby opla #one piece #x reader #koby one piece #koby x reader #opla #opla fic #monkey d garp #bogard one piece #helmeppo

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i-am-vita · 17 days

Text

A Night at Loguetown

A Bogard x FemOcReader Oneshot

+ 7,700 words Looong, I don't know what the hell happened here.

👉 My Masterlist, Oc Ghost Rose Masterlist

Fic based on my OPLA hot older guys headcanons. Just a little angsty love for the five Bogard fans out there. Shot out to those who wanted some Phantom Captain content.

Summary: 8 years ago you had to go into hiding with your little niece to protect her after the demise of your entire stranded family. During the process to claim her as your ward, you meet again with the man whose heart you broke along with yours when you ran away from the life your family had decreed for you.

Warnings: Some swearing. Mention of family loss. Bittersweet, things may get angsty. Mention of drinking. Light NSFW, no smut but implicit sex. Definitely angsty ending.

Expect: They have History... and not just Bogard and Reader. Lovers to Strangers to Lovers. Idiots in Love who won't talk things out. Lost Chance. Use of You, not Y/N. FemOcReader, fem pronouns. Bad english, consistent time tenses not detected.

Any other warning or expectation you detect, let me know.

Really, dear showrunners had no business hiring such a young handsome actor for Bogard. I accept no complaints.

8 years ago...

Poorly. You had thought of this poorly.

You've made a career in white collar robbery and piracy by planning and being prepared for every eventuality. You didn't enter a room without a full plan of action and at least three escape routes.

But all those years of pirate life went to hell the moment you heard of the ultimate demise of your entire estranged family. So when you knew of the survival of your niece and where she had been sheltered after the shipwreck, you had to make an effort not to zoom into the Loguetown Marine Base in a frenzy that would rival Kuro's during one of his bloodlust nights.

Still, you charged through the main door and into the hallways with such a pose and authority that the guards took a while to realize you weren't an Officer or even a Marine at all, despite your pristine two-piece cream suit.

Really, the pencil skirt and heels should have been a clue.

"I shall talk with the captain in charge of this base!" You demanded while looking in your pockets for the permission with the appointment when intercepted by two guards who didn't take kindly to being bossed by a random civilian woman and rudely grab your arm. "Get your paws off me!"

In an instant, you had the first guard on his knees in a painful joint lock, his twisted arm being held by your right hand, your fingers pressing certain paralyzing points on his flesh. Your left was preparing to deflect the baton of the second one when a scabbard appeared and intercepted the weapon, sending it flying with the smallest of flourishes along with the guard who ended up crashing against the wall.

Your eyes followed the length of the scabbard to the figure of a man dressed in a formal gray suit with the white coat of a high rank Marine Officer, a gray fedora obscuring the features of his face.

Suddenly you were aware of the situation you found yourself into, bursting into a Marine Base and technically attacking an officer, with absolutely no escape route or back up since you practically jumped the ship as soon as you docked.

Then, the man in the fedora raised his face and the world stopped spinning for a second.

Oh, fuck...

Because of all the Marine Bases in all the Blues, you had to storm into the one he was stationed.

"Rick?"

Bogard had heard some Marines calling for a person but it had been the feminine voice speaking with such authority that stopped him in his tracks.

He turned the corner of the hallway in time to witness a guard rudely grabbing the arm of a well dressed woman while spitting words unfitable for a respectable Marine towards a civilian, let alone a lady.

"What the..." He heard the Vice Admiral who was turning himself while you immobilized the guard.

In an instant, Bogard had advanced towards the conflict and got rid of the second guard with a flourish of his still sheathed sword.

A heavy silence followed as he heard his first name from your lips. Nobody had called him anything but his family name since he had enlisted in his youth. Since you.

Your name too escaped his mouth in disbelief. His eyes widened as they traveled up and down your figure, taking note of your polished appearance but, more shocking, your martial pose.

You were never a fighter. Even from the short time you spent together in your youth it was clear you lack the ability to put on a fight. And here you were, ten years later, having blossomed into this stunning woman capable of dealing with a fully trained man bigger than you with only your non-dominant hand. In a skirt and heels.

It's not that you had been pinning over the memory of your first love all these years. You've lived the life you chose without regrets and had your own share of lovers through the time. But it had been an emotional amount of weeks with the memories of your beloved sister and previous life haunting you even in your sleep.

And with the memories of past times, inevitably came him and the day you broke both of your hearts…

The throat clearing of his boss brought both of you out of your reverie.

"Ejem... Madam, would you be so kind as to release the Ensign." You heard the heavily accented voice of an older man in full white suit and Marine coat pointing to the guard who still remained immobilized by your left hand.

I'll be damned... You thought when recognizing Vice Admiral Garp.

You loosen the guard's arm who snatched it and tried to regain his footing while reaching for his baton. A heavy glare from Bogard was enough to freeze him in place.

"Dismissed, Ensigns. You will answer for your manners later." He commanded both guards before returning his gaze back to you.

"... Madam, is there a reason why we shouldn't proceed as protocol for this exchange?" Garp questioned looking from you to Bogard who still remained unable to take his enthralled eyes off of you.

You barely managed to withdraw your eyes from your former suitor to look at his superior when another visitor showed up.

"Excuse me, Vice Admiral Garp, isn't it? May I intercede?" Spoke an elegant gentleman coming from the opposite side of the hallway, being escorted by a couple of guards. Dressed a little over the top with a dark blue three piece suit, a short cape, top-hat and a rapier sword at his hip, the old man looked like he had just come out of a ballroom.

Of course you knew your Captain Erik better. That was his to-go outfit for almost everything not pirate-related. And now he was presenting himself with his real identity to save your sorry impulsive ass.

"Shostakovich Eriksson, from Angel’s Arts and Exports." He introduced himself with an ostentatious curtsy. "I believe my employee has a meeting with the current captain of this base regarding the custody of a certain late Captain Charles’ child." He extended a folded paper accompanied by an ornate business card. The same paper with the appointment you had forgotten in your hurry.

Bogard received the papers and scanned them while Garp looked intensely at the newcomer, like trying to figure out something about him.

"Have we met, Mr. Shostakovich?" With a little gesture of his hand, Bogard showed his superior the card with the full name and rank of the gentleman. “... Duke Shostakovich.” Garp corrected himself.

"I believe we have spoken on the Mushi from time to time..." Your Captain answered enigmatically, giving the Vice Admiral a very particular gaze.

Both assistants looked baffled at their bosses.

You had no idea Captain Erik maintained certain communication with Vice Admiral Garp from all high rank Marine Officers. He tended to avoid them like the plague. Meanwhile, Bogard was sure at that point he knew all of his boss' associates out of the Marine but that gentleman's name had never come up.

Unless it was one of his unsavory contacts only known by a code name...

His sharp gaze went from Duke Shostakovich to you wondering what kind of job you’d do for someone like him. His only clue about what had become of you after breaking your courtship was a very recycled story from your family of you going away to be an artist against their wishes and cut all ties with them… and himself.

“A nasty situation.” Garp finally spoke. “Captain Charles was an exceptional Marine. Still, we are used to losing even the best of us, but his family too?” A pregnant pause. “I’m sorry for your loss, Madam.”

“Thank you, Vice Admiral.”

“Let's put behind this little misunderstanding. We have an appointment after all.” Suggested Eriksson signaling the hallway that led to the Base Captain’s office and making a small salute by bringing a hand to his top-hat as a farewell sign.

You were about to turn around when the Vice Admiral voice called for your Captain.

“Your Grace, may I have a word in private?”

A look of panic filled your face at the prospect of being left alone with the man who once asked for your hand so many years ago.

“... Why not?” Was your Captain’s answer.

Well, fuck.

Garp extended the glass of whisky he had just served from the local Captain’s stash to the elegant gentleman and served himself a second.

“... Really, Erik, a Duke?” He asked finally after assessing his counterpart.

The Phantom Captain made a small shrug that did little to alter his perfect sitting pose while sipping his whisky.

“You never asked about my real identity.”

Garp sighed heavily and drank his whole whisky in a go.

From all the things he expected to uncover after Captain Charles and his family’s perish, the identity of one of his oldest associates was not in the list. While his acquaintanceship went as far as The God Valley Incident thirty years ago, when Garp teamed up with Roger and his allies to fight off the Rocks Pirates, their formal arrangement started as recently as after the execution of the King of Pirates. As a last gesture, Roger had shared with him the contact of his main informant, the elusive Phantom Captain, just in case he needed something. Since then, his exchange of information was limited to Den Den Mushi calls and the occasional meet with the mysterious masked figure.

“And why now? After all these years…”

“I've learned to go with the current when the unexpected happens. Would you rather me to deny everything and leave you suspecting with all these other dubious facts around the former Captain of this base?”

“And about your little assistant?” The Vice Admiral inquired about the pretty lass that had single handed immobilized one of their officers and had his subordinate so entranced.

“Ah, that information is not up to trading. She’s been like another daughter to me and her secrets are her own.” The threat was evident in Eriksson’s tone. Garp understood, he himself was protective of his underlings too, no matter how old and experienced they were.

“Funny thing, I was considering giving you a call as long as I was out of here. What information do you have about Captain Charles?”

“Native of somewhere in the New World. No registered relatives. Surprisingly wealthy young man. Enlisted at 21 years old under your personal tutelage. A meteoric career. Married at 26 to the eldest stepdaughter of late Admiral Thorne. Very low profile since then.” Eriksson kept enlisting the many accomplishments of his assistant’s brother-in-law. “Recently promoted to Loguetown Base… Killed a month ago during a raid at the ship that transported him and his family to his new residence. No survivors except for his only child.”

“Officially, that was an accident.” Grunted Garp tightening his hand around the glass. It had been frustrating to be asked by the upwards to let the case be archived as a shipwreck and brushed under the carpet.

“... That’s new.”

“Fresh from this morning.”

“Oh? They found out the culprit, didn’t they?”

“Not to my knowledge. What do you have?”

“Uhm… Didn’t you ever wonder about your former pupil's family name?”

“Are you calling a family feud? But no, no registry of his family.” Garp considered this new angle for a second. Marines hardly have any ties to their families once enlisted. Orphanhood being a most common occurrence. “Charles…” Understanding finally entered the Vice Admiral's mind. “No way.”

“Alleged fifth son, expelled and erased from the family records at 19 years old. Managed to steal a large amount of treasure before disappearing. What he took that was so valuable they were after him all these years and how they finally found him remains unknown.”

“Treasure or not, that would make that little girl the grandchild of…” The Phantom Captain made an affirmative nod. “No wonder they were eager to send her somewhere hidden and secure.”

“To send her…”

“The child was sent to a secure location when it was apparent the claiming process by her aunt was going to take a longer time than anticipated.” Eriksson’s left eye twitched in annoyance at not having been privy to that knowledge.

Like you would’ve said: well, fuck.

The insistent tic of a nearby clock marked the pass of seconds since both older men had entered the small office an overeager Captain had borrowed, leaving their younger underlings at the small and empty waiting room.

Bogard’s gaze almost hadn't left your figure since the moment he caught sight of you, feeling like a caress in its intensity, leaving you flustered like that young debutante in his first ball that you were once.

"You look good." His words broke the heavy silence, finally addressing you for the first time in ten years.

"Thank you…” You found the courage to take your attention off the clock and back to your former beau. Time had certainly suited him turning that young promising officer barely out of teenaging that you were so enamored with in your late teens into this earnest and dashing man. “... I like your hat."

An unamused chuckle followed your remark. Bogard diverted his face to the side while taking a step towards you before returning his intense dark gaze to you again.

“... Are pleasantries all that’s left of us?”

Bogard had thought himself prepared to face you. After the death of his dear friend Charles with his wife and in-laws, it was obvious there was only one person to take care of their surviving child and the family's inheritance. With Vice Admiral Garp in charge of the investigation, it was inevitable that your paths cross again.

But a week passed, and then two. A solicitor from a private firm assured them you were on your way. More weeks… And just on his last day ashore, you stormed into the Loguetown Base, assaulting the first guards who dared to stop you from your meeting, looking all proper and polished with a Duke as your benefactor.

He was prepared to face the girl that had rejected his hand, he was not ready for the stunning woman that arrived instead.

“I didn’t believe there was an us left after...”

“After you ended it all?” The accusing tone was evident in his low voice, something that was expected. What you didn’t expect was the pang of longing in your heart when another step brought him closer to you, enough that, if you dared to uncross your arms, you could raise your hand to touch his clean shaven jaw and discover if it felt as soft as it looked.

“I understand if you’re still angry at me, but this is hardly the time…”

“There hasn’t been a time in ten years.” He spat coldly. “I looked for you. I asked and asked again but nobody would tell me a damn thing. Sometimes I wondered if you were still alive…”

Those first years after your departure were a torture to Bogard. Wondering where he went wrong for you to reject him and leave so suddenly. What befalled to you? Where you safe? Did you even make it to where you were supposed to?

“Because nobody knew.” You fought to keep your voice low in vain. “I didn’t want to be found. I didn’t want anything to do with that life anymore.” It had taken you years to finally dare to contact your sister, a fact she had sworn to keep a secret. Still, not even she would have been capable of pinpointing your location.

“... Was the prospect of marrying me so daunting?” Were his affections not enough for you? He knew his heritage was not nearly as much as your family may have wanted but his promising career and friendship with your brother-in-law were considered adequate enough when he asked for their permission to court you.

“It wasn’t. That’s what scared me the most. You were ready to reject the Vice Admiral’s promotion to stay with me and I was suffocating at the idea of a life like my mother and my sister.”

There it was, you’ve finally said it out. You both had your own dreams and ambitions before meeting each other, how were you so ready to let it all go wasted after mere months together?

“You were my first love, you still are the only man I’ve ever loved…”

You knew you never loved Shanks as more than the best of friends even if your on and off relationship had been the longest of all; Kuro had been a lie, a master manipulator that knew how to twist your affections and the memory of your first love to his interests; Buggy was a pretty eyes nuisance, it was just one time and you were wasted drunk after dumping Kuro. But Bogard? You may have been just a teen but your regard towards him was still one yet to be surpassed, and it was precisely its intensity that scared you off.

To hear that confession from your lips after so many years was like a balm to Bogard’s heart. His hand raised almost on its own volition towards your face, his fingers barely grazing your cheek when your next words halted his movement.

"... but we were too young.” You added in a defeated tone. “We knew very little of each other when we were together all those years ago and now… it’s just too late. We have our lives. I'll go with my niece soon and you to your next commission. If we leave it this way we may remember the good of those days as happy as they were instead of the tragedy that brought us today.”

Bogard wanted to punch himself for his idiocy. Here you were, dealing with the sudden demise of your family, changing your entire life that you had made for yourself to take care of an orphan child you barely knew. And here he was demanding and complaining for his ten year old unresolved feelings towards you like the sulking teenager he once was.

An apology was already forming on his lips when the office door finally opened letting out Garp and Eriksson who regarded their younger assistants with equal looks of bewilderment at their closeness.

You backed away to a proper distance, knowing that whatever time life may have offered you with your old flame was gone.

“Farewell, Lieutenant.” You made polite curtsy like those you were taught in your youth.

“Madam…”

Bogard brought your hand gallantry towards his lips in a goodbye kiss. His dark eyes never leaving yours. You let out a small gasp, soft red lips slightly opened like begging for a proper kiss akin to the one he couldn’t give you the first time you went away from him.

Sad eyes followed the figure of the Vice Admiral Second while both Marines walked away into the hallway.

“So… that was The Guy.” Eriksson murmured in a teasing tone. You could feel the blush taking over your cheeks. It had been years since you shared the story of your first love at a drinks night with your crew. You didn’t think he would remember.

At that moment, the current Captain of the base called you into his office to start the process you were called upon.

“So… that was The Lass.” Garp murmured to his second. Bogard cleared his throat uncomfortably, not letting his mask of stoicism drop from his face.

How could Garp forget all those years ago when the best of his young former cadets, freshly promoted to Petty Officer and ready to be permanently assigned to his ship, almost left everything for the hand of a pretty lass? A pretty lass that displayed a little more common sense by rejecting the proposal and returning his prize pupil to his original ambitions.

Garp knew it had been a bitter pill but the life of a Marine rarely left time for personal attachments and romance. Most officers ended up having few contact with their families and significant others until the relationships cooled down into mere acquaintanceships.

Eriksson's little assistant had made the right call and for that Garp respected her. Enough to make a small concession for a day, even if it came years in the after.

“All is in order to set sail with the first tide in the morning.” The Vice Admiral commented after several minutes of silence while the pair exited the base, heading to the docks.

“Aye, sir. All permits have been signed.”

“Good, good. Let’s take the rest of the day off.”

“Sir?”

“Life's too short to not enjoy a nice free evening when it shows up so unexpectedly.” The older man gave his younger companion a significant look. “I may look for a nice place to dine, call upon some acquaintances if they’re still around. See you on the morrow, my lad.” Garp gave a friendly path over his collaborator's shoulder and parted away leaving a very astonished Bogard.

Bureaucracy was the worst.

Paperwork filling, walking from office to office, and explaining time and time again why it had taken you a month to arrive at Loguetown to fulfill your new responsibility as the only direct heir of your family and ward of your niece.

“You try to cross from the other fucking side of the Grand Line in less than a month…” You would think bitterly.

“Do not mistake the tardiness of my First Assistant as apathy toward her duty.” The Duke would supply, detecting the signs of stress over the fidgety of your fingers. “My dukedom is not around the next island and the Grand Line is not smooth sailing on the best of days.”

The presence of the Duke and the lies of your parents over your disappearance had worked well on your behalf. The fact your sister kept the carefully edited letters you sent her from time to time over the years and your personal Den Den Mushi contact helped too. That’s how the family lawyer had found you.

You were yet to be taken with your niece. They won’t even tell you where she was and that was the worst. Was she injured? Scared? Was somebody with her or did they keep her alone in some hide room for her own sake?

“All papers are in order…” The Marine Lawyer finally declared to you and the solicitor from the family that had taken your niece, a kind lamb-look-alike gentleman that introduced himself as Mr. Merry. “Miss Thorne may lay claim over the child as her legal tutor at any moment from now.”

“Excellent.” Claimed happily Mr. Merry offering to shake your hand. “I'm so glad this matter was finally settled. I don’t know how many more days I would be allowed to wait at Loguetown for the legal procedures.”

“And I deeply apologize for the delay, Mr. Merry. It has not been the easiest of transitions.” You said to the lamb-man.

“Of course, and I am deeply sorry for your loss, Madam. Your sister and her family were greatly appreciated by my employers and rest assured you and your niece are welcome as many times as you wish at their state. Their daughter, Miss Kaya, would be delighted to have her dear friend close.”

It relieved you to know that your niece was well cared for among family friends and arranged with Mr. Merry to set sail to Syrup Village in your respective ships the next day after brunch.

The sun was low in the sky when you and Eriksson finally walked out of the Base. The weary sight of you gaining a concerned look from your Captain.

You were one of his best assets on the field, steady and fast when retrieving any information he may be after, your knowledge and culture toward appraising any of his retrieved pieces of art and treasures remarkable, your leading as his First Officer for the last years outstanding, but your patience towards more polite intercourses runs thin. Added the emotional turmoil of the last month and your recent encounter with whom he assumed was your first love… He knew you were ready to snap.

“What was all that with the Vice Admiral?” You asked suddenly.

“Dunno. What was all that with the Vice Admiral’s handsome subordinate?” A small smile finally appeared on your lips at your Captain Erik’s antics. “Where do you think all those assignments to acquire intel from Marine Bases came from?”

“... You've got to be kidding me.”

Would there ever be a day when the Phantom Captain didn’t leave you stunned with a random fact about his mysterious acquaintanceships?

An hour later, you were still munching the new information about Vice Admiral Garp and Captain Erik’s association. Does that mean Bogard would be privy to the same information? Would his superior share the identity of the Phantom Captain with him? He looked as surprised as you at Garp’s assessment of the Duke when he introduced himself. Would Bogard judge the fact you ran away from your engagement to end up becoming the same thing he fought against? That you were the Ghost Rose?

“Stop, I can see the smoke coming out of your ears. If dad thought it acceptable to share his identity with the Vice Admiral it means he’s legit and won’t snitch on him.” The soft voice of Raoul tried to serene your thoughts.

“For once, it’s not the well being of the Captain that concerns our dear rose, is it?” Added Carlotta between sips of her pink cocktail.

“Ohhh, more like some tall, noir and handsome Lieutenant in a fedora.” Purred Meg giving you a nudge.

You drank your glass of sweet red wine in a go to have something to blame for the subtle blush on your cheeks. After you came back from your appointment at the Marine Base, your crew decided a farewell night of drinks was due. It had been during one of your first bonding over drinks night that you had shared the story of your first love and how you came to be where you were with them. You couldn’t believe they still remembered but that’s what you get when you deal with a crew who thrive in collecting intel from all the seas.

“Hey, if you need the night to sort things out, we won't hold it against you. I know these past weeks haven’t been easy.” Murmured Carlotta, giving your hand a friendly grip.

Your crew knew that while you loved them to death, you were also a person who valued more alone time when something plagued your thoughts.

That’s how you found yourself wandering the streets of the city of your youth, letting your feet guide you wherever they desire.

From your vantage point on a stone bridge, you could sight The Angel of Music at port, captain Erik’s favorite vessel, where you had been sailing for the past years.

It was ironic that, from all the crews sailing the seas, you ended working for an extravagant Duke posing as a Pirate Captain.

“Nobility was suffocating me. I could no longer live among the fake and lies of the World Government so I decided to run away to discover the secrets of the world.” Your captain had shared with you when you asked him why he had chosen you as a protegee among the Red Hair Pirates. “Your Redhaired boyfriend was raised in this Pirate World and has all the intention of living and dying in it. We had a very different upbringing. Life has a way of finding us and pushing us back where we come from, one way or another. So we, upper runaways, should stick together. We have better odds to face the comeback side by side.”

How forewarning have been the Duke’s words. Your old life had indeed found you and dragged you back where you started.

Your eyes catched the sight of the Marine Vessel captained by Vice Admiral Garp. Small figures in white running up and down, ensuring their evening chores, preparing to depart at first light in the morning and, hopefully, with it the memory of your encounter with your first love.

You turned from the view of the port and kept walking the polished and well kept streets of Loguetown, lost in your head among memories and ghosts of the past but sure of the certainty of your decision. You’ll go the next day to meet with Mr. Merry’s employers who had taken your niece temporarily under their wing. Whether she wants to go living with you to your birth town or both stay in Syrup Village with her friend, your life would change irrevocably. Again.

You found the square following the melody of string instruments. More like a hidden corner between the tall elegant buildings. A little cafe spreaded its product’s scent on the air along with the bread, cheese and spices of the adjacent diner. A few young Marine cadets and civilians occupied tables and benches, enjoying the still warm weather of the late afternoon and the ocean view.

A small band at the corner played soft tunes to which some couples danced at the center of the square.

You love dancing. It was the only joy you found among the insipid upper class you were dragged to after the second marriage of your mother in your infancy. You wanted your little town by the sea back, the seasonal festivals full of lively music and food, the narrow shabby streets with intimate corners such as this one…

You were brought out of your reminiscence by the silent approach of the same gentleman that plagued your thoughts earlier. His stoic countenance softened by the smallest of smiles while his eyes roamed your figure now free of your previous formal wear and encased in a fitting black lace dress.

After your exchange of words that morning, Bogard had thought you gone for good again. Dread filling him at his inability to express the longing for you in his heart. So many years of putting on a facade of soldierly professionalism had taken its toll and it had been tough to let himself be vulnerable with another again. He had gone defensive over your candor at addressing your past courtship and inexperience in dealing with the fervor of your affection toward one another.

The dismissal of his superior for the rest of the day gave him hope to set things right between you. He knew what the bureaucratic processes entailed so he was left with time to seek one of his favorite places for the very few occasions when he had had a free evening in the city and freshen himself up, but he couldn’t resist calling upon some favors to obtain some information about this Duke Shostakovich.

There was something about all that earlier interaction that wouldn’t let him be.

Hours later, he hadn’t come with anything that seemed dubious enough. Duke Shostakovich had had a clean business since he had claimed his title and current lands; his islands were a safe haven in the Grand Line for both his subjects and refugees. Nobody had dared to fight his territories, some islands near him even asked for his protection. If it wasn't for his philanthropic image and lack of expansionist ambition, he could be considered an equal to the Emperors of the New World… And have you been working for him all these years? Doing what exactly?

The sun was already set near the horizon when he was informed through a mutual at the Base that the procedures had finished more than an hour ago and the Duke and his assistant had left.

Bogard cursed his researcher nature for taking so much of his time. In his haste to depart to find you, he left behind his white coat and suit jacket. He was about to go back upstairs for them when a vision of a beauty in a black lace dress crossed his sight.

It was not the first time in the past ten years that he let himself be swayed away by the image of a woman reminiscent of yourself. He had to look twice to ensure that it was indeed you walking in the small square near the inn, regarding the dancing couples with longing.

Years of training made Bogard’s steps almost soundless. He was about to clear his throat to call for your attention when a sudden stiffness took over your back and you turned around. Your left hand moved unconsciously to your thigh where your trusted blades laid sheathed under the fabric of your short dress.

Your eyes danced over the silent approaching figure of the Vice Admiral’s Second. His coat and jacket nowhere to be seen, the cuffs of his shirt rolled over his toned forearms, the gray waistcoat accentuating his lean figure previously hidden by the burlines of his coats.

“Am I under any suspicion to merit this silent approach, Lieutenant?”

“It depends. Have you engaged in suspicious activities recently, madam?” The light jest brought a smile to both former lovers. Oh, if only he knew. “I happen to have a room in this inn.”

“Do you happen to spend many nights at inns?”

“Being in close quarters at sea for weeks can get… tiring. A good night ashore makes wonders.”

“Yeah, tell me about it.” You smiled at the memory of your first months at sea. How that first sensation of liberty turned into dread pretty soon. “I was ready to jump overboard and swim to port the first time we spotted land after three weeks at sea.”

It wasn’t the first time that something in your demeanor was off for someone presumably invested in the arts world, starting with your fighting display from earlier. Bogard wasn’t the most connoisseur of the arts trade but something didn’t match...

“You are thinking too loud.”

“May you elaborate, madam?”

“You have that same frown from the first time we met and I asked you to help me hide from my brother-in-law and whoever of his friends he was set to pair me with.” Bogard chuckled at the memory.

By request of your mother, poor Charles was left with the responsibility of introducing you to his most eligible acquaintances during your debut. Bogard already knew of you, having been asked by his friend to dance with you to get rid of his meddling mother-in-law. He didn’t expect to find a kindred spirit in his discomfort of upper social gatherings. Time flew by dancing and conversing with you.

Like that first night, Bogard extended a hand to you in a silent request for a dance. You gave him your own hand in return and let him guide you to the center of the square where other couples danced at the rhythm of the band’s instruments while a female voice sang about a night of romance in a far away city. He followed the familiar steps of the square pattern with ease and grace.

“You haven’t forgotten.”

“What kind of swordsman would I be if I didn’t have a perfect stance and footing.” He repeated his words from that first time you danced when you expressed your surprise over his skilled steps. “About earlier today…” He added after more seconds of swaying. He had a second chance that day to make it right with you. “Please, forgive me.”

“After how I ended everything, I should be the one asking for your forgiveness…”

“No, you were right in walking away from it all. We were too young and I asked too much from you too soon.”

“Let’s not lean on it, we are not those children anymore.”

“Indeed…”

You were right to point out how little you really knew about each other. He was so set in enamored you and made you his that he failed to assess your wishes for the future. While he could recognize and accept the infatuation of his younger self as immature in nature, the memory of your past romance was mixing with the current feelings of a full grown man towards a woman whose beauty and mysterious allure enchanted him.

His hand on your waist tightened until pressing your bodies closer in a sensual move that had nothing to do with those he’d attempted when dancing with you in your youth. Your left temple laid gently against his smooth cheek thanks to the added height of your heels. If he moved slightly, he could taste your lips with his and determine if they were as sweet as he remembered…

His intent was stopped by your retreating body while your head denied his advance.

“Nothing has changed from this morning, Rick. We are still set for different paths tomorrow.”

“There’s still tonight.”

Bogard drew you back to him and the soft sway of your bodies at the slow rhythm of the string instruments. Your traitor body eager for his touch, warmth filling your belly at the prospect… Would it be that bad to let yourself get a taste of what could have been?

“What then, Lieutenant?”

“May I invite you a drink, madam?”

A drink turned to full dine at one of the small tables at the terrace, among longing gazes and soft hands touches, sharing under the candlelights and between sips of wine those parts of your lives safe enough to not break the illusion of normalcy that you wished to enjoy if only for the short time you had…

You didn't mean to stay the whole night in Bogard’s bed, but your body refused to part from his warmth, your face hidden in his neck, the scent of his aftershave still lingering on his skin, his fingertips tracing imaginary lines over your naked back and shoulders leaving delicious shivers.

The first time you were set to retire from his room, but his thoughtful care at cleaning you and ensuring your comfort after your joining made you lure him against you again, and then more until exhaustion finally took over, letting yourself be drawn first to a light slumber and finally pass out in his arms.

Bogard woke up first after some hours of rest, his body used to rising before dawn after years of life at sea and setting sail with the first light. Reluctantly, he abandoned the softness of your body under the sheets to retrieve both of your clothes from the spots where they have been left behind during the night.

His foot made contact with a cold metal and he remembered the satchel of rose carved blades tied to your left thigh he had uncovered after removing your dress, the carvings combining with those of the rings that adorned both of your middle fingers. A small sight of panic had seized your eyes before he knelt and his skilled fingers got rid of the offending garment to continue his survey of your skin with his lips.

Now his inquiring mind insisted on his suspicions from the day before but why couldn’t there be a simple and innocent explanation? Yes, you worked for a noble dedicated to the arts and philanthropy for years, a Duke whose lands were located in one of the most dangerous regions of the seas. The Grand Line was unforgiving and a death sentence to those who didn’t prepare to deal with its hazards. You had lived in it, probably sailed it regularly as commissioner of your boss’ exports, of course you had hardened and developed fighting abilities to survive…

A soft slide of sheets brought him out of his thoughts to retrieve your possessions and leave them at the feet of the mattress. Your still sleeping form getting restless without his presence beside you.

He continued getting dressed, the Marine in him insistent in departing towards his duty, the man already yearning for your soft skin and the intoxicating flowery scent of your hair but he wanted to respect your decision of letting it be. In the past, he had overseen your wishes, took for granted that your mutual affection was enough to start a life together at the expense of both your dreams and ambitions.

Now he knew better and pondered if with the years he would have gotten restless or resentful toward renouncing Garp’s promotion and be stationed somewhere safe and have a family with you, like his friend Charles had done with his own.

Even when his body burned for you, more now that he had got the opportunity to have you, he could not feel other than grateful for you taking the decision for both to go live your own separate lives all those years ago but… what about now? You had taken the decision to come back from your life to care for your niece and start anew somewhere safe.

Would you be willing to have him in your life again?

Bogard rejected the thought as soon as it formed. What kind of companion would he be to you or even a father figure to your child? Always absent sailing the seas with the constant threat of losing his life in the line of duty. You had already lost a father and a stepfather like that.

No, you were right from the beginning. It was better for you two to go your own separate ways…

You were pulled out of your slumber by the subtle sounds of movement and fabric, your mind too trained to be alert to keep you in sleep anymore even if it recognized the safe space you were in with your companion for the night. Among the shadows of the predawn, you recognized the male figure of your lover getting dressed, the muscles of his back moving enticingly while he put on his white shirt and the rest of his formal wear.

Knowing the farewell was upon you, you rise from the bed and put on your dress, a sudden need to be covered to face Bogard for a last time. You approached silently and touched his shoulder gently, his lack of a sudden reaction indicative of his awareness of you.

“Let me.” You signaled the hastily made knot of his tie and helped him tidy it. His coats and hat remained at the table next to the door, ready to be taken. You couldn’t help taking the gray fedora to place it on his head, your fingers caressing the line of his short hair, down to his forehead, over his elegant nose and lips…

Bogard pulled you towards him for that last kiss he regretted not giving you before. His mouth eager and passionate while his hands roamed the skin of your back still free of the zipper of your dress. Your own hands wandered over his jaw and clothed shoulders, fighting not to tear off the fabric to feel again his warm skin under your fingers.

His tongue nudged gently your lips to deepen the kiss and yours answered in equal fervor. Both trying to convey with your bodies the yearning for a life that was no longer available to you. His eager lips drift down your neck to murmured sweet endearment in your ear between kisses.

“Mia cara rosa, I…”

“No, please, don’t say it.” If you heard him say it out loud you may have broken right there.

He acquiesced and finally pulled away from your embrace. You’ll remember everything happening very quickly from there. You helping him put on his gray coat, white Marine overcoat folded on his arm. You opening the door, Bogard pulling you in for another kiss, you drawing him in for one more… And then he was gone.

You rested your forehead on the dry wood of the closed door, letting out a small whimper and the tears you didn’t dare to spill in the presence of your love for fear of making him doubt your resolve of going separate ways again but…

Would you dare? You wondered while getting properly dressed yourself.

To share with him your true identity as the Ghost Rose, open up about your recent past, the things you have done, even against the World Government and the Marine.

As Garp’s subordinate, would his sense of order and justice be as flexible to accept you in his life? Or would he ask for no explanation and look the other way around to every suspicious detail of your life, letting the secrets accumulate until you drown each other in distrust?

You walked back to your Captain’s ship, silently and slowly, the heels of your shoes the only source of sound in the dark streets before dawn, unsure if in fear or anticipation of finding Bogard waiting for you after all.

The view of the docks greeted you finally, the first lights of the sun coloring the sky in bright pinks while a Marine vessel set sail to the horizon.

You couldn’t help yourself. You ran towards the space Vice Admiral’s ship occupied minutes ago and to the edge where the waves crashed against the concrete, watching the sea taking your love away the same way he saw you go all those years ago... A hand found a place on your shoulder giving it a friendly grip, you turned lighty to see your Captain Erik comforting smile.

Yes, life had dragged you back where you started, but you had people at your side to face the comeback.

I'm not crying, you are...

Moots and interested people I remember: @fanaticsnail @jintaka-hane @cinnbar-bun @gingernut1314 @writingmysanity @feral-artistry @holylanguagesbatman @triangularz

#one piece live action #one piece #one piece fanfiction #bogard x reader #bogard one piece #opla bogard #opla #opla fic #x reader #one piece oc #one piece original character

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